Oh coffee, that tempting, full experience substance. A well brewed coffee is a friend with a good story that has the right amount of detail and depth to make you settle in and smile. A poorly brewed one is biting, the person who’s forever critical and unhappy.

Coffee is a lubricant in work and social worlds. “Let’s get together for coffee” might be the start of a project or a partnership. It helps new co-worker relationships have common ground. Read more

Blog topics go beyond 9-5. For work related posts only, click the work tag or say hi on LinkedIn.

I recently attended a meeting with an impressive agenda and we set out with great hope. Excellent presentations prompted conversation which slowed the agenda, but it was worth it. With many interesting minds in the room, we hit many, but not every agenda item.

The facilitator remarked on the fact that even though we weren’t progressing as planned, good conversations were happening, and he was right. You could see it on everyone’s faces- discovery and connection in the shape of smiles, nods and slightly pursed foreheads that go with new ideas bubbling just below the surface. It was that energetic mix of shared knowledge and possibility. Read more

Blog topics go beyond 9-5. For work related posts only, click the work tag or say hi on LinkedIn.

Communicating between work mates is an important part of work culture. Anyone who has worked with me knows I think about how coats start the day. Coats? Yeah, coats – they signal change. Whether your work team is small or large, how you communicate internally is important, and coats play a role. Read more

The alarms have started, bells and plinks that will play several minutes apart. My son uses three; my daughter two, pulling them from sleep, these steps into morning marked with sound. I put on the kettle for tea.

Blog topics go beyond 9-5. For work related posts only, click the work tag or say hi on LinkedIn.

When you build your business or organization, a web presence is necessary. People expect a website. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should provide the basics: who you are, what you do, and how to reach you. Beyond that, you have some choices to make. I’ve heard “We should be on Twitter” from small businesses and organizations alike.

Let’s start with the word should. Who’s the boss of your communications efforts? Who says you should be anywhere? Social media is a great way to expand your services, but you need to consider what’s a reasonable reach. Read more